Method for dermatology therapies in combination with low level laser treatments

Abstract

The present invention is a method for promoting faster wound healing and alleviating pain during and after various dermatology-related treatments. The method comprises using low level laser therapy in conjunction with dermatological treatments including intense pulsed light, radio frequency, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, chemabrasion, chemical peels, ablative lasers, and cryogenics.

1 . A method for treating skin comprising: 
 a) treating skin with a dermatological therapy to repair defects; and    b) applying low-level laser light to the skin that is treated.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which treating the skin is invasive.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  in which treating the dermatological therapy is one or more of: 
 a) intense pulsed light;    b) radio frequency;    c) dermabrasion;    d) microdermabrasion;    e) chemabrasion;    f) chemical peel;    g) ablative laser; or    h) cryogenics.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs prior to the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs during the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs after the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs prior to and during the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs during and after the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs prior to and after the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light occurs prior to, during and after the treating skin with a dermatological treatment.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  in which applying the low-level laser light is accomplished with a laser device comprising: 
 a) a plurality of laser energy sources for generating a plurality of laser beams;    b) a wand from which the laser beams emit, the wand being capable of being retained in a hand of a user and freely moved relative to the surface of the skin of a patient; and    c) an optical arrangement attached to the wand for receiving the laser beams and for transforming each of the laser beams into a desired spot shape.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein at least two of the laser beams are emitted simultaneously.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising a controller for independently controlling the generation of laser energy by each of the plurality of laser energy sources.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein each of the laser energy sources is less than one watt.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of the laser energy sources is a semiconductor diode.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the laser energy source generates a laser beam having a wavelength in the visible range.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of the spot shapes is substantially linear.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising a first laser beam having a first spot shape and a second laser beam having a second spot shape wherein the first spot shape is substantially linear and the second spot shape is circular.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising a control circuit for controlling the pulse width of each laser beam.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the pulse width of at least one of the laser beams is such that the laser light emitted is substantially continuous.